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|
Match |
Round 1 |
Day |
1 |
Date |
9th October 2007 |
Welcome to the very 1st edition of the “Scarecrow in the Field”. This report is replacing what was formerly known as “Bakers Delights” and before that the “DB report”. This article will no only contain results and a brief summary of the previous weekends play but new to this feature will be players profile each week and an “Ask Burto” section. Dan Burton will provide advice on a wide range of topics and use his vast knowledge to help solve life most difficult questions.
1st Grade
With the retirement of a few senior players over the last couple of seasons, 1st grade has a distinctive new look about it this year. Scott Philipson has decided to hang up the spikes for the time being and Cam Watson was elected to skipper one’s.
Our strength this year looks to be in our bowling with new recruit Matt Burton spearheading it with Shane Cook. The batting once again will be lead by Cam Watson with new guys Michael Kirwan, Paul Greentree and one of the Pom’s Michael Stevens providing support. Mark Collison, Kasun Bulasinghala, Craig Smith and Shaun Freeburn are all back for another season and looking to build on a good year, which saw 1’s defy many critics and make the semi’s. Rounding out the side is young Ash Vella who bowls good leg spin and is a promising cricketer. Ash played for us a couple of seasons back when 5’s where the last Eagle side to win a comp.
With Ben Donaldson back from overseas and Dave Wood and Paul Sullivan back from injury soon 1st grade look to have great depth this year.
2nd Grade
2nd grade has very much the same feel to the side that made the semis last year. Raoul Barbon in back captaining the side and will look to the experienced trio of Dan Bettiol, Nandana Dissanyake and Max Labrooy to lead from the front. Their pace attack will be one of the quickest in the competition with the leading eagle wicket taker Ijaz Khan and Matt Szady. Charlie Leonard will provide good support with the ball and also looks handy in the middle order. Will Affleck is back after a year in grade and looks to have added some aggression to his game, and this writer here is predicting a bumper season from Will.
Jason Novosel will be looking to capture the form of a couple of years ago as he tries to once again cement his spot in 2nd grade again, and new import Jamie Heywood will be keen to set the platform with DB at the top of the order. Aaron Vella will look to put a horror season behind him which saw him fired LB more times than Michael Clarke early in his career. But if you ask AV he was the unluckiest bloke in cricket last season.
With Bruce Leslie and Shan Rana back soon then like 1st grade 2’s seem to have good depth as well.
3rd Grade
Daniel Burton is back as skipper of 3’s and will look to continue the good run of 3’s making the semi’s. 3rd grade, like 2nd grade, has much the same team as last year. Geoff Sheargold will look to set the platform at the top of the order with club veteran Tony Ross at the other end. The middle order will mix youth with experience with youngsters, Nathan Ross, Tim Affleck and 3rd grade debutant Mitch Wakeford, in the mix with Chris Novosel, Gordon Starkey and Raffee Hakim.
The bowling will be lead by the skipper and the work horses Dom Papanis and Sneaky Pete Bastow.
4th Grade
Jason Jewiss takes over the reigns as 4th grade captain and will look to the experience of Pete Abboud, Nathan Deery and yours truly to lead the way for this band of youngsters. Emran will look to put a disappointing season of starts behind him and try to push for a spot back in 3’s. Rob Lenard is back from the wilderness and will partner Emmy up the top of the order. Trent Miller the bowling average winner from last will look to take wickets at a regular rate although he may have to keep.
With Peter Ananin and Michael Croucher with have some talented youngsters with the ball and Steven Duhigg finally got a well deserved call up from 5th grade and will look to take wickets to keep his spot. Mark Freeburn will try and outshine his older brother Shawn and look to become The Package II, and will form a good spin combination with myself and I’m sure he will be able to teach me plenty.
5th Grade
Excuse my ignorance here but I don’t really know a lot about 5th grade. I know Matt Wilton will be charging and trying to work out the grades, Grant Sanders will be looking to get us off to a flyer like he always does and I’m sure Wayne Moore will pop up when he is needed, and JA will be looking to extend his cricketing career and continue to help the new and younger guys to improve all the time and Richard Hawker is back after a 6 year eagle break. Any of the news guys want to contact me and let me no what you do feel free to.
Ed. Fifth grade is bolstered by the return of former Eagle 1st and 2nd grader Richard Hawker. Hawks is a great guy and will be good to see him back in the Eagles’ Nest again. Grant ‘The Colonel’ Sanders is lending his bowling and batting skill to the side this round with Pottsy to come back in 4’s or 5’s soon. We watched some of these youngsters in the nets and they look like giving JA the ‘cattle’ he needs (apologies to The Growler).
Round 1
Round 1 sees us taking on former local rivals North West Sydney Hurricanes in what are always tight and entertaining tussles. My prediction of course is a win in all grades. 3rd will be looking to get revenge over a flogging they copped last year while 1st, 2nd and 4th grade will look to get a good early start to the season with a big win.
Ask Burto
The season’s first letter has come from a Mr S Crow of Auburn and reads;
“Burto, I’m struggling with the ladies at the moment & know you’ve had more than your fair share of good sorts. What can I do to improve this situation?”
Well, Mr Crow, firstly, you’ve come to the right place and you’re on the money there, I’ve conquered more nationalities than the Roman Empire.
I have a few tried and tested methods & a couple of ideas that may be of assistance.
After close analysis of your handwriting, I can tell that you’re not the most attractive man, but that doesn’t matter, have you seen some of the bozo’s these celebrity hotties hook up with? The most important thing is confidence. Women can smell it on a bloke from miles away, or at least from across the dancefloor at the Fiddler. If you can’t muster up any confidence, go for it’s poorer cousin – bulldust - & hope she’s not smart enough to work out that you’re full of it.
Next, aim low. Anyone who ever tried to achieve anything hard and failed will tell you that there’s no pain like that disappointment. So, aim as low as possible, and anything you then achieve is a bonus. Remember, it doesn’t matter how pretty they are, there’s always someone who’s tired of putting up with their crap.
The third point – Choose who you hang out with carefully. I like to hit the circuit with guys who are uglier than me so I stand out when we all walk into a venue. Now, this may be difficult for you, but even the Elephant Man likes a beer and a night out, so give him a call. The other issue with your mates is their constant grass cutting. Anyone whose job involves a uniform or who drives little soft top cars should not be trusted. Also, be wary of the guy who goes in to chat to the girls first, he’s most likely telling them that he’s here with all his gay mates.
Widen your options – Raise your age limits (I won’t say lower them!), weight restrictions, take the one with the massive ears, anything, we’re all God’s children in the dark.
If all this fails, try plying them with alcohol, at least then they should still be asleep when you’re sneaking out the door with 2 litres of milk from their fridge so you can have a coffee when you get home.
Good luck and update me when you’ve had some success, unless the season ends before then.
Burto
Player Profile Matt Burton
The 1st player in the Field with the Scarecrow is Matt Burton!
Thoughts about Auburn so far?
Good bunch of guys. Great set up at Mona Park. Fantastic support around the
club.
Why did
you choose Auburn? Mainly due
to my brothers who are at the club.
Favourite Auburn player? and why?
Steve Duhigg. He has made the extra effort to get to
pre season by travelling from Goulburn and bowled well in the nets.
Any
changes to ned's arvo tea?
Ned’s doing an outstanding job feeding me.
Word Association
Dewahs
- Handbag
Manly
- Premiers
Cooky- Loose
Dan Burton
-
Hooters
Harbour
Bridge
– CCTV
Retro
– Ordinary
Bastow
- Yellow
Liverpool
-
Improving
Winning
- Success
Most annoying teammate?
In 1st grade that is a no brainer.
What
did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a Policeman but they seem to let just
about anyone do that.
Theme
song for your life? Steelers
Wheel – Stuck in the middle with you.
One
rule in cricket you would change?
I would allow left arm bowlers to get LBWs if the ball
pitches outside leg stump.
Sexiest
team mate? They all run a
long second to road kill.
Who do
you refuse to shower with? A
Librarian.
Who
would you turn gay for?
Couldn’t do it.
Down to
your last 10 bucks how would you spend it?
Buy a wallet.
Cacaaw Scarecrow signing off.
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